In the first of a two-part Caribbean adventure, Sebastian Doggart infiltrates James Bond’s birthplace

On the northern coast of Jamaica, fringed by icing-sugar beaches and rocky coves, lies the holy place where Ian Fleming wrote all the James Bond novels. Now populated only by rich and famous paradise-seekers, it is one of the most desired and exclusive oases on earth. Its name is Goldeneye.

Over the last two years, this secluded tract of land has been mysteriously shut to the world. The official story has been that the site has been undergoing a $75 million renovation. As with arch-villain Francisco Scaramanga’s private island, its inaccessibility has made it even more appealing a place to explore. So when I heard that the legendary site was re-opening to a handful of invited guests, I was ready to risk life and limb to gain access.